Sport
6 January, 2026
Condello opens 2026 with two race victories
At the 2026 Highland Gathering, Domenic Condello was on a mission to prove that age is just a number, with the Masters sprinter delivering double trouble with wins in the 120 m over 35 final and the 400 m men’s final.
Condello opened his Highland account by winning the sixth heat of the 120 m over 35 event, with his time of 13.985 the sixth quickest in the heats behind Stewart Dobrzynski, Dion Paull, Laura McDougall, Zander McDougall and Steven Coulson.
As the second frontrunner just behind Laura McDougall with a mark of 19.75 m, Condello produced his fastest 120 m run of the season so far.
Condello shaved four tenths of a second off his heat time to win the final in 13.506, 36 milliseconds quicker than Dobrzynski, who finished in second.
“It means a lot, I’ve been running for about 19 years and this is the big one on the circuit, so it means a lot to win here, especially the first of the year,” Condello said after the 120 m over 35 final.
“I have been training hard. I thought I was in good form, but you never know, there’s always somebody who’s there to beat you.
“There are people a lot faster than me, but I’m an old man and handicaps are a good leveller.”
With the 120 m over 35 sash now in his collection, Condello participated in the 400 m heats three hours later.
As a clear frontrunner with a mark of 84 m, Condello maintained the lead for the whole race, winning the heat by eight tenths of a second to extend his day for another race.
Looking visibly exhausted after the heat, Condello lined up for the 400 m final just over an hour later, with fellow finalist Ben Wilson hoping to go back-to-back-to-back in this event.
While still the front starter, Condello’s advantage had noticeably shrunk to just seven metres.
However, that lead was all Condello needed, finding an extra gear on the final straight to keep the chasing pack at bay with a winning time of 47.822.
So what was the secret to the Victorian Athletic League’s vice president digging deep to some double delight?
“I think the secret was I didn’t focus, I didn’t concentrate on doing the 400 m at all, it was more just I had nothing to lose, so I just ran it out,” Condello said.
“I ran a bit like a rabbit and I didn’t feel them behind me. Normally, when I feel them, I tense up and drop off, but I didn’t feel them. I could hear the commentary and it just pushed me onto the end.
“It’s about improving yourself, you’re not always the best, but when you win stuff, it’s really good. Everyone should be proud who runs in the sport, full stop.
“It’s all these clubs and places that make it feel like a community. Everyone knows everybody and everyone gets involved.
“I just want to thank Maryborough, it’s a fantastic meet with fantastic people.”